16 replies to this topic

[Simon Taylor]

Here's a nostalgic query for anyone who grew up in the UK in the 1960s listening to those gloriously irreverent and life-affirming offshore pirate radio stations:

Last week I spent a fascinating day in Spain with former circuit supremo John Webb, who has lived there with his wife Angela in retirement for over 20 years since the Foulston debacle. At the age of nearly 80 he is a mine of stories and controversial views, which will be the subject of an upcoming "Lunch With..." in Motor Sport.

John's memory is sharp and detailed, and when we were laughing over his circuits' sometimes rather wild involvements with pop radio stations and rock stars in the 1960s, Keith St John's name came up. His real name was apparently Keith Smith, and he is well-remembered for racing an early CanAm McLaren, painted purple to make it more obtrusive. He was sponsored by Radio London, one of the better pirate stations, where Kenny Everett, Tony Blackburn, Dave Cash, Ed Stewart and John Peel all cut their broadcasting teeth.

Kenny Everett's memorable sung jingles for that station included one that went "Wun-der-ful Radio Lon - Dun", and when they were plugging upcoming Brands Hatch meetings they had sung jingles for "Wun-der-ful Keith Saint-Johohohn." Keith later became an item with, and I seem to remember actually married, the very glamorous and hard-headed Dutch racer Liane Engeman.

So whatever happened to Keith St John, and what happened to Liane Engeman? Does anybody know?

Simon Taylor

[sstiel]

Hi Simon,

You can't get away from me, I'm on this forum too!

Here's a page from the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame website that may answer your query.

http://www.offshorer...o.uk/odds03.htm

Best wishes,
Simon Stiel

[Tim Murray]

There are a couple of earlier threads on Keith St John, and one on Liane Engeman, but I don't think they add anything to the info in Simon Stiel's link.

Keith St John

Keith St John

Liane Engeman?

[Alan Cox]

http://www.offshorer...o.uk/odds03.htm
Best wishes,
Simon Stiel

What a great website - thanks for that, Simon.

PS Looking forward to your "Lunch with...", Simon

Edited by Alan Cox, 17 November 2010 - 14:43.

[Simon Taylor]

I'd checked the earlier threads, which didn't seem to have any recent sightings, but many thanks to Simon Stiel for the link to the excellent Offshore Radio site which tells us that, in 2005 anyway, Keith was alive and well and living in Spain - and so was Lianne (apologies for omitting the second 'n').

If Keith is in the same part of Spain as John Webb, I'm sure Webby (who doesn't travel far now) would love a visit. Anybody got more contact details for Keith?

[David Force]

Was the Keith St John McLaren M1 the same car that was later driven by the equally shy and retiring Malcolm Clube ?

I too look forward to reading Lunch with... Webby. A man who contributed so much to motor sport.

[arm]

Wasn't Keith's car pink rather than purple ? I seem to remember he was sponsored by Pink Stamps, which was some sort of rival to Green Stamps, you used to get them with petrol. Simon , I meant to tell you that Jean-Pierre Jarier would be a great Lunch with . I had dinner with him at Laguna Seca last year - a function arranged by Rod Campbell - and he has some great stories. He grows olives these days and sell a little olive oil as it gives him some sort of French tax break. He also sells some Jarier merchandise on the net.

Meanwhile surely someone knows where Keith St John is ?

[Alan Cox]

Wasn't Keith's car pink rather than purple ? I seem to remember he was sponsored by Pink Stamps, which was some sort of rival to Green Stamps, you used to get them with petrol. Simon

Definitely not, Andrew (Welcome to TNF, by the way. Like many others here, my early motor sport education included reading "ARMchair Comment" every week). Pink Stamps sponsored John Markey's Lotus 30.
http://www.lotus30.c...cing_Years.html
http://www.lotus30.c...nts_Markey.html

[petestenning]

And the Pink Stamps McLaren F5000 of Ray Allen

[RS2000]

and Nigel Rockey's Escort in rallying.

[raceannouncer2003]

Hi Simon

Have you tried contacting Michael Henderson in Melbourne? He is part of Ecurie Scalpel, which you can find on the internet. According to the website, he has the ex-Keith St. John Elva Mk 7. Maybe he knows where St. John is. I was in touch with Michael last year about our Westwood reunion. He also had the ex-Brian McLoughlin Ralt RT4, which raced at Westwood.

Vince H.

[Michael Clark]

'Lunch with...' is always the first thing I read. Howden Ganley would be good.

The F2 website shows Keith St.John as a DNA entry for the first few races in 1967 with a 'McLaren M2B-FVA' - which, had it ever existed, would have been a curious combo. It would be interesting to know how close such a machine ever came to a racetrack.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Simon,

I'm afraid I can't help with your query, but I just thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you how much I enjoy your writing.

Jack

[john medley]

Michael Henderson in OZ, yes, but Ed Holly also in OZ had/ has one of the St John/ Engeman cars

[David McKinney]

The F2 website shows Keith St.John as a DNA entry for the first few races in 1967 with a 'McLaren M2B-FVA' - which, had it ever existed, would have been a curious combo. It would be interesting to know how close such a machine ever came to a racetrack.

I certainly missed that one at the time. No doubt one of the three M2Bs Ken Shepherd bought, He entered one of them for StJohn with an Oldsmobile V8 at the Easter 1969 Brands meeting. It was a non-starter

[ReWind]

Lianne (apologies for omitting the second 'n')

Liane with one "n" seems to be perfectly alright if you look at Speedqueens or Facebook.

[Simon Taylor]

Many thanks for all your helpful replies - plenty for me to follow up. TNF never fails!